Stoker



March 2, 1937. J. B. MacKENZIE STOKER Filed Jan. 25, 1935 INVENTOR JZ7S8/0/7 5 Mac ffe lijLQ ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mesne assignments,

to The Standard Stoker Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 23, 1935, Serial No. 3,058

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to stokers for locomotive boilers and the like and more particularly it relates to stokers which convey the fuel to a point in the lower portion of the firing opening of the boiler where pressure fiuid blasts act to spread the fuel over the firebed.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved, simple and compact stoker of the character described occul pying less space directly outside the boiler at the firing opening and less space within the boiler firebox than those stokersof past practice adapted to feed fuel through the firebox firing opening.

Other objects of the invention reside in the arrangement and relation of the stoker parts with the firebox, in the particular shape of the discharge mouth of the stoker, and in its position in: the firing opening.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a stoker conveyor comprising a fixed conduit section and a movable conduit section, the latter at one end being universally connected tothe former and permitting longitudinal move- 25 ment with respect thereto and at its opposite end being universally mounted in a spherical seat.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved universal joint between the conveyor conduit sections including a hinged 30 portion affording access to the interior of the conduits.

For purposes of illustration the invention is disclosed and will be described as embodied for use with a locomotive.

On the drawing,

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view through the rearward portion of a locomotive and the forward portion of' its tender illustrating the invention applied thereto partly 40' insimilar section and partly in elevation;

Figure 2. is a. plan view of the forward end of the stoker of the invention with the firebox backhead shown in section;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 45 3.3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in elevation of the forward end portion of the movable conduit section provided with the hinged cover at the universal joint; and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5of Figure 1, showing the spherical seat-like support for the movable conduit section.

Referring to the drawing, the locomotive I0 is provided with a boiler firebox H, having the grate 55; I2; a backhead l3, and'a cab I l-having the deck Rearward of the locomotive [0 the tender is indicated at 20. It is of ordinary construction having the frame 2|, the fuel bunker 22, and the deck or floor 23 which carries the usual slide plates 24. These slide plates control the fiow of the fuel from the fuel bunker into the stoker S which is of novel construction and now will be described.

The stoker S includes a conveyor 25 leading forwardly from the tender 2|], and a fuel delivery conveyor 26 which receives fuel from the conveyor 25 and delivers it to a point above the grate [2 for distribution. Comprising the conveyor 25 is the open mouth trough 21 mounted beneath the tender deck 23 to receive fuel from the bunker 22 through a central aperture 29 in the deck 23, the size of this aperture being controlled by the shiftable plates 24. Extending forwardly from the trough 21 and rigid therewith is a tubular conduit 3| which terminates at its forward end beneath the locomotive cab deck I5 and has loosely telescoped over its forward end a. sleeve-like conduit 32. At its forward end the latter conduit is provided with a spherical member 33 which is received in the spherical seat 34 of the fuel delivery conduit 35. A clamp 36 retains the spherical member 33 in its seat 34 to form a universal joint connection 31 between the fuel delivery conduit and the sleeve-like conduit 32.

At the rear of the trough 21 and rigid therewith is a gear casing 38 which houses and maintains in an operative relation suitable gearing (not shown) for driving the stoker conveyors. Power is transmitted to such gearing from the motor 39 by flexible shafting 39a. Depending from the under side of the gear casing 38 is a spherical member 40 which rests in a complementary seat 4| of the supporting bracket 42. By this arrangement, the conveyor 25, at the rearward end thereof, is mounted to pivot about a vertical axis and also about a transverse horizontal axis. It will also be observed that the rearward end of the-conveyor 25' is restrained against relative fore and aft movement with reference to the tender 2!) by reason of the engagement of the spherical member 48 in the seat 4|. Movement of the conveyor 25 about a longitudinally extending axis is prevented by providing the gear casing 38with laterally projecting flanges 43, one at each side of the spherical member 38, each flange 43 resting upon a rail 44 formed at each lateral extremity of the bracket 42 and having a convexly curved upper surface. By the described construction, together with the universal joint connection 37 and the telescopic sleeve-like conduit 32, it will be apparent that the necessary flexibility has been provided for the stoker conduits when the locomotive and tender are rounding curves or passing over switches, frogs and turntables.

The means for conveying fuel through the stoker includes a conveyor screw 45 having a portion thereof within the trough 21 and extending forwardly therefrom through the tubular conduit 3i to a point adjacent the universal connection 3? between the fuel delivery conduit and the sleeve-like conduit 32. At its forward end, the conveyor screw is provided with a jaw 46 which is connected to the jaw 4 of the fuel delivery screw 38 in the conduit 35 by means of pins 39 and a block 58 to form a universal joint 5i between the conveyor screws 45 and 48. The conveyor screw 45 is driven from its rearward end by the gearing within the gear casing 38 and conveys forwardly the fuel which falls into the trough 2? from the bunker 22, the fuel being urged against the teeth 52 of a crusher 53 and re-- duced to a size suitable for efficient firing. The crushed fuel is then conveyed forwardly by the conveyor screw 45 to the delivery conduit 35 where the screw d8 urges the fuel through the upwardly opening mouth 54 of the fuel delivery conduit 35 into the zone of action of the distributor member 55 which projects the fuel to all parts of the firebed.

At times it is necessary to disconnect the conveyor screw 25 and the fuel delivery screw 48, as for instance when the pins 49 or block 58 are worn to an, extent that their replacement is es sential. This can be readily accomplished by an arrangement of parts which includes a removably hinged upper forward section 56 of the sleeve-like conduit 32, which section includes, as an integral part, a portion of the spherical member 33. The section 56 is hinged to the sleeve-like conduit 35 by means of a lug 51 which engages a bolt 53 passed through the spaced cars 59 of the conduit 32. Lateral movement of the section 55 with reference to the conduit 32 is prevented by providing a seat 65 in the edges of the conduit 32 which are contiguous to the edges of the section 56. The edges of the section 53 are received in the seat 60 and its lower portion extends below the horizontal medial plane of the conduit 32 whereby removal of the pins 49 is facilitated. Upward displacement of thesection 53, under normal operating conditions, is prevented by the reason of the clamp 36 which is secured to the delivery conduit 35 over the section 55 and by providing this section with a rearwardly extending lug 6i on its. upper side which fits beneath the ledge 62 of the conduit 32.

Whenever it is found that the conveyor screws 45 and 48 must be disconnected for any reason, the mechanic removes the bolts 63 which secure the clamp 36 to the delivery conduit 35 and raises the clamp through the opening 64 in the cab deck l5. The upper forward section 56 may then be swung rearwardly to a position as shown by the dot and dash lines in Figure 4 whereby the pins 33 and the block 53 may be removed and replaced if found to be worn.

The fuel delivery conduit 35 is in novel relation with the firebox H and is of such construction that the delivery of fuel to the distributor member 55 is very efficient and one which makes possible the construction of a new and improved means for projecting the fuel over the flrebed. Leading forwardly and upwardly from the spherical seat 34, the conduit 35 passes through the lower portion of the elongated firing opening l8 and thence curves upwardly so that its discharge mouth 54 opens upwardly into the firing opening [8 with the forward edge 65 of the mouth 54 adjacent the plane of the firebox inner sheet l8 while the rearward edge 36 thereof extends exteriorly of the firebox to a point rearward of the outer firebox sheet ll.

Rearward of discharge mouth 54 and adjacent the rear edge 66 thereof is mounted the distributor member 55 which includes a chambered member 51 receiving pressure fluid from the supply line 58 and arranged to issue blasts of pressure fluid toward the firebox through the orifices 39 which are spaced above the horizontal plane in which the discharge mouth 54 terminates. Valves 18 are utilized to control the pressure of fluid in the several chambers of the member 6! in a manner well known in the art. A casing H formed with the conduit 35 extends above the mouth 54 and is provided with inspection openings (2 above the distributor member 55 through which openings the stoker operator may observe the function of the chambered member 51 and its action upon the rising fuel. A slidable cover 13 may be utilized to open or close: these openings.

Above the casing N there is shown a portion of a conventional flredoor which closes the upper portion of the elongated firing opening l8 against outside exposure. The openings at each side of the delivery conduit 35 in the lower por tion of this firing opening are closed against rearward exposure by a pair of flanges 16, one extending laterally from each side of the conduit, forming also a means for securing the conduit 35 to the backhead l3 by bolts 11. A further support for the conduit 35 is afforded by providing it with foot pads 18 which are secured by bolts to a bracket 19 carried by the firebox backhead I 3 and mudring l9.

Fuel emerging from the upwardly opening mouth 54 is swept forwardly across a table by the jets of pressure fluid issuing from the distributor member 55. The table 88 is supported by the conduit 35 and extends forwardly therefrom. Its upper surface 8| is in horizontal alignment with the plane in which the discharge mouth 54 terminates and is provided with a pair of laterally curved deflectors 82, one at each side thereof, for deflecting portions of the fuel into the back corners of the firebox. The table 88 and the forward portion of the conduit 35 are protected from the intense heat within the firebox by the vertical grate 83 which includes upper and lower sections 84 and 85, respectively. The upper section 84 rests upon the lower section 85 while the latter rests upon the grate bearer 86.

It will be observed from Figures 1 and 2 that by the described relation between the conduit 35 and the firebox I I, the distributor member 55 is conveniently disposed exteriorly of the firebox and is thus more accessible for repair and control, while the particular relation of the discharge mouth 54 to the elongated firing opening l8 permits a stoker construction which occupies very little space in the firebox and in thelocomotive cab, and at the same time, a stoker is provided which delivers greater quantities of lump fuel to the distributor member 54 in a free state and with lower power consumption than has been hitherto possible with stokers of the general class described. A further advan tage in the particular relation of the discharge mouth 54 and the firebox H is that the table 80 projects into the firebox a distance no greater thanthe table of other stokers in the class which protrude through the cab deck and feed through the firing opening. Thus the protective grate 83 occupies but little combustion space within the firebox.

The novel hinged universal joint structure and the particular mounting for the conveyor have each been embodied in co-pending applications filed Jan. 28, 1937.

While the features of my invention have been embodied in but one combination, others are possible and have been included in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a furnace having a wall comprising an inner and an outer surface, and an opening in said wall extending between the inner and outer surfaces thereof, a conduit for feeding fuel to the furnace, said conduit having a fuel discharge mouth in the lower portion of said opening directed upwardly thereinto, one edge of said mouth being disposed adjacent the inner surface of said furnace wall and the opposite edge of said mouth extending to a point rearward of the outer surface of said furnace wall, a casing on said conduit extending above that portion of said fuel discharge mouth disposed rearward of the outer surface of said furnace wall, a door cooperating with said casing for closing that portion of the opening in said furnace wall above the fuel discharge mouth of said conduit, means for urging fuel through said conduit and through the mouth thereof, and means in said casing acting on the fuel emerging from said mouth for projecting the fuel into the furnace.

2. In combination with a furnace having a wall comprising an inner and an outer surface, and an opening in said wall extending between the inner and outer surfaces thereof, a conduit for feeding fuel to the furnace, said conduit having a fuel discharge mouth in the lower portion of said opening directed upwardly thereinto, one edge of said mouth being disposed adjacent the inner surface of. said furnace wall and the opposite edge of said mouth extending to a point rearward of the outer surface of said furnace wall, a casing on said conduit extending above that portion of said fuel discharge mouth disposed rearward of the outer surface of said furnace wall, a door cooperating with said casing for closing that portion of the opening in said furnace wall above the fuel discharge mouth of said conduit, means for urging fuel through said conduit and through the mouth thereof, and means in said casing disposed below said door and extending above said fuel discharge mouth acting against the fuel emerging from said mouth for projecting the fuel into the furnace.

3. In combination with a furnace having a wall comprising an inner and an outer surface, and an opening in said wall extending between the inner and outer surfaces thereof, a conduit for feeding fuel to the furnace, said conduit having a fuel discharge ,mouth in the lower portion of said opening directed upwardly thereinto and arranged with its forward edge adjacent the inner surface of said furnace wall and its opposite edge extending to a point rearward of the outer Surface of said furnace wall, conveying means for urging fuel through said conduit and through the fuel delivery mouth thereof, a casing on said conduit extending above that portion of said fuel discharge mouth disposed rearward of the outer surface of said furnace wall, a door cooperating with said casing for closing that portion of the opening in said furnace wall above the fuel discharge mouth of said conduit, and means in said casing acting against the fuel emerging from said mouth for projecting the fuel into the furnace, said conveying means being disposed below the level of the last named means.

4. In combination with a furnace having a grate and a wall comprising an inner and an outer surface, and an opening in said wall extending between the inner and outer surfaces thereof, a conduit extending into said opening for feeding fuel to the furnace, said conduit having a fuel discharge mouth in the lower portion of said opening directed upwardly thereinto, the forward edge of said mouth being adjacent the inner surface of said furnace wall and the opposite edge of said mouth extending to a point rearward of the outer surface of said furnace wall, a casing on said conduit extending above that portion of said fuel discharge mouth disposed rearward of the outer surface of said furnace wall, a door cooperating with said casing for closing that portion of the opening in said furnace wall above the fuel discharge mouth of said conduit, means for urging fuel through said conduit and through the mouth thereof, means in said casing acting on the fuel emerging from said mouth for projecting the fuel into the furnace, a table extending forwardly from said conduit into the firebox and arranged to form a support for the fuel projected into the furnace by said last named means, and a protective grate extending downwardly from said table to said furnace grate, said protective grate extending to the inner surface of said furnace wall.

5. In combination with a furnace having a wall comprising an inner and an outer surface, and an opening in said wall extending between the inner and outer surfaces thereof, a conduit extending into said opening for feeding fuel to the furnace, said conduit having a fuel delivery mouth in the lower portion of said opening directed upwardly thereinto and arranged with its forward edge adjacent the inner surface of said furnace wall and its opposite edge extending to a point rearward of the outer surface of said furnace wall, a casing on said conduit extending above that portion of said fuel discharge mouth disposed rearward of the outer surface of. said furnace wall, a door cooperating with said casing for closing that portion of the opening in said furnace wall above the fuel discharge mouth of said conduit, conveying means for urging fuel through said conduit and through the mouth thereof, and a jet member disposed in said casing rearward of the outer surface of said wall for issuing blasts of pressure fluid against the fuel emerging from said mouth for projecting the fuel into the furnace.

6. In combination with a furnace having a grate and a wall comprising an inner and an outer surface, and an opening in said wall extending between the inner and outer surfaces thereof, a conduit extending into said opening for feeding fuel to the furnace, said conduit having a fuel discharge mouth in the lower portion of said opening directed upwardly thereinto, the forward edge of said mouth being adjacent the inner surface of said furnace wall and the opposite edge of said mouth extendingto a point rearward of the outer surface of said furnace wall, a casing on said conduit extending above that portion of said fuel discharge mouth disposed rearward of the outer surface of said furnace wall, a door cooperating with said casing for closing that portion of the opening in said furnace wall above the fuel discharge mouth of said conduit, means for urging fuel through said conduit and through the mouth thereof, means in said casing acting on the fuel emerging from said mouth for projecting the fuel into the furnace, a table extending forwardly from said conduit into the firebox and arranged to form a support for the fuel projected into the furnace by said last named means, fuel deflectors on said table, and a protective grate extending downwardly from said table to said furnace grate, said protective grate extending to the inner surface of said furnace wall.

7. In combination with a furnace having a grate and a wall comprising an inner and an outer surface, and an opening in said wall extending between the inner and outer surfaces thereof, a conduit extending into said opening for feeding fuel to the furnace, said conduit having a fuel discharge mouth in the lower portion of said opening directed upwardly thereinto, the forward edge of said mouth being adjacent the inner surface of said furnace wall and the opposite edge of said mouth extending to a point rearward of the outer surface of said furnace wall, a casing on said conduit extending above that portion of said fuel discharge mouth disposed rearward of the outer surface of said furnace wall, a door cooperating with said casing for closing that portion of the opening in said furnace wall above the fuel discharge mouth of said conduit, conveying means for urging fuel through said conduit and through the mouth thereof, a jet member disposed in said casing rearward of the outer surface of said wall for issuing blasts of pressure fluid against the fuel emerging from said mouth for projecting the fuel into the furnace, a table extending forwardly from said conduit into the firebox and arranged to form a support for the fuel projected into the furnace, fuel deflectors on said table, and a protective grate extending downwardly from said table to said furnace grate, said protective grate extending to the inner surface of said furnace wall.

JOSEPH B. MACKENZIE. 

